The Oklahoma City Thunder are supposedly a small-market team, but are spending money and investing in their future like big-market teams.
Continuing their busy offseason, the NBA champions and guard Jalen Williams agreed to a five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million. The extension kicks in at the start of the 2026-27 season.
The 24-year-old Williams averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this season, earning third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive honors, and played with a torn ligament in his wrist during the last three months of the season, including the team’s seven-game NBA Finals triumph over the Indiana Pacers.
The Thunder’s recent spending spree includes center Chet Holmgren, who signed a five-year extension, fully guaranteed for $239 million, which could have a total value of $250 million and keeps him with the franchise through the 2030-31 season.
The cornerstone of the franchise, guard and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a four-year, $285 million contract extension, with an annual value of $71 million, earlier this month.
With the spending spree, Oklahoma City is approaching nearly $250 million in payroll starting in the 2026-27 season, putting them past the first and second apron, which could result in penalties for exceeding the salary cap.